[Dixielandjazz] The Earliest Saxophones

[Robert Newman]

The first saxophones manufactured looked much different than those of today, and sounded different.
They typically had a long gooseneck that extended from the top of the instrument down to approximately the level of the bell and then turned forward at that location. 

They were played in short staccato phrases no longer than three or four notes to a phrase.

The original players had extreme difficulty developing an embouchure and always stood to play. 

The instruments were not played orally.

They were obviously the origin of the term "Axe." People would say, "Get your axe over here and start playing."
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Bob "Those things were too hard to blow" Newman